Private Alexander Durward

See Notes (1)

Alexander was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1891. He also had a sister in Brisbane, QLD, Mrs Marion Hughf - her husband died in France in 1918.

Alexander was a labourer in the Bacchus Marsh district when he enlisted in the AIF, 11^th Reinforcements, 5^th Battalion on the 24^th of July 1915, aged 24 - shortly before this he was fined £3 for using indecent language in the Main street while drunk⁽⁴⁾. He embarked aboard the HMAT A71 Nestor in October, disembarking in Egypt some time later. He joined his unit at the end of February 1916 before transferring to the 46^th Battalion a week later. Embarking from Alexandria, Egypt at the start of June he disembarked at Marseilles, France six days later.

The end of June 1916 saw Alexander involved in the Battle of Pozieres after which he spent the period up until March 1917 alternating between duty in the trenches, training and rest behind the lines. During this period he was disciplined numerous times for being either late or absent from parade, or being drunk - on one occasion he forfeited 21 days pay and on another was court martialled and forfeited 30 days pay.

He took part in the 1^st Battle of Bullecourt in April 1917, and the 1^st Battle of Passchendaele. Alexander was AWL for two days in March 1918 - award, forfeit 9 days pay - before he was involved in the attacks on Dernacourt in April. August saw him involved in the Battle of Amiens followed by the attack on the Hindenburg Outpost Line in September. The battalion was out of the line when the war ended on 11 November, and Alexander returned to England in January 1919.

Alexander embarked for Australia aboard the Kildonian Castle in March 1919, returning to Australia in May and discharged from the AIF in late June.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Alexander possibly died in 1972 at Caulfield, VIC.⁽³⁾

Notes

1. Name should be Durward, not Durwood.
2. He names his next of kin as George Durward, friend, of Glasgow, Scotland.
3. In Indexes of BDM for Victoria there is the following
   Alexander Durwood d. CAUL 1972 age 87
   Francis Alexander Durward d. ROSE 1985 age 93
   However he could have died elsewhere.
4. The Bacchus Marsh Express 10 Jul 1915

Location of Tree Number N093

Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.68097200467645, 144.45784382014958

Related Links

• Timeline
• Nominal Roll
• Embarkation Roll
• Service Records
• 46^th Battalion
• Unit Diaries

Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 11:38:47